Thill-coupling



(No Model.)

D. W. SMITH.

THILL COUPLING.

Patented July 1'7, 1888.

UNITED STATES DAVID \VARREN SMITH,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF VVABASH, INDIANA.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 386,222, dated July 17,1888.

Application filed Novemberll, 1887. Serial No. 254,937. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID WARREN SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wabash, in the county of \Vabash and State of Indiana,haveinvented a new and Improved Combined Thill-Coupling, Anti-Rattler, andShaft Holder, of which the following is a clear, full, and exactdescription.

Myinvention relates to combined thill-couplers, anti-rattlers, andshaft-holders, and has for its object to improve the construction of thethill-coupling for which United States Letters Patent N 0. 246,508 weregranted to F. Hoffman, August 30, 1.881, and to combine therewith ananti-rattler and shaft-holder, thereby obtaining a more useful coupling.

My invention consists in the construction and combination of the severalparts, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1' is a perspective view of the thillcoupling and anti-rattler.Fig. 2 is a perspec tive view of the thill-coupling and anti-rattler,showing the shaft held in an upright position. Fig. 3 is theanti-rattler and thill-iron, showing the combination forming theshaft-holder.

In the drawings, A represents the anti-rattler; B, the coupler orshackle, and O the thilliron which couples in the shackle.

The anti-rattler A is secured at its lower end by the nut securingclip-tie to the clip, and extends outward, curving slightly downward;then with an oval curve extends upward and slightly backward, passingthrough the opening it back of the shackle, so as to press against theconnection f and against the thill-iron 0 when adjusted; then slightlyforward and upward, and with a shorter oval curve it again extendsdownward,with a gradual curve back through the opening h.

In the front end of the shackle B is a perpendicular slot, a, extendingthrough the round part of the shackle, except at the bottom and backpart, f, where it is left connected to prevent the anti-rattler fromflying forward when the thill-iron is removed, thus forming lugs or carsgg. On the top of the shackle B is an oblong opening, I), which runscrosswise of the shackle, and, crossing the slot a, forms a T- shapedopening in the outer end and top of the shackle. A round opening, 0,passes horizontally entirely through both ears of the shackle B,intersecting the slot a and opening I), as shown. Back of the connectionf is a square opening, h, passing perpendicularly through the extensionof the clip back of the ears of the shackle, through which passes theantirattler, as shown in the drawings, which are part of thisspecification.

The thill-iron O is made with flattened sides and fits in the slot a inthe shackle B. On each side of the thill-iron 0, near its connectingend,are cylinder-shaped shoulders d, of the proper size to fit in theopening 0. They must in length fit the oblong opening b, and have theirsides 0 c flattened sufficiently to permit them to pass through theoblong opening 1) when shaft or thill is raised, as in Fig. 2.

By the peculiar curves of the anti-rattler A, which is fastened at lowerend by nut securing clip-tie, the square opening It, through whichpasses the anti-rattler, the peculiar shape of the thill-iron O, withshoulders (I, with flattened sides 6 e, and of the shackle B, thethill-iron 0, when shafts are raised, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, ispressed upward by the anti-rattlerA sufficiently for the flattened sides0 e of the shoulders at to rest against the sides of the oblong openingb in the shackle B, and thus hold the shafts in an upright position andform a simple and perfect shaftholder.

By the peculiar arrangements of the openings b and c, the slot or of theshackle B, the anti-rattler A, and shoulders d, with flattened sides 6e, and of the thill-iron 0, when the thill O is adjusted in the shackleB and let down, as when in use, Fig. 1, it is impossible for it tobecome detached, and it therefore forms a simple, safe, and handycoupling.

This construction is far superior to that shown in the Patent No.2l6,508, aforesaid, wherein the ears forming the shackle are projeotionsof the clip, have recessesin thcirinner walls, and are entirelydisconnected. The thilliron has an oval head and elongated lugs, andderives no support from an anti-rattler.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a clip and thilliron having lugs, as described,of the shackle composed of the two parallel branches having their innerwalls vertically grooved and the to the shaft-clip and passing in loopform up 15 apertures at the base thereof for the reception through thesaid vertical slot, and having a of the thill-iron logs, the saidbranches having I forward bearing against the said connection, theconnection f, which serves the additional substantially as specified.

function of a stop for the anti-rattler, and also In testimony whereofIaffix my signature in having a rear vertical aperture for the loop ofpresence of two witnesses.

the said anti-rattler, substantially as specified. DAVID WARREN SMITH.

tical slot in rear thereof, and the anti-rattler, of the form shown, itslower end secured 2. The combination of a shackle, substan- Witnesses;tially as described, having the connection M. H. KIDD, f for the twoparallel branches, and the ver- J AGOB GOODY.

